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Most of those living near the house in the 700 block of Eye Street didn't know her. They'd seen her coming and going only a few days before the blaze.

None knew the 30-year-old Bakersfield woman was pregnant.

"She had a red Mustang and she parked it here," said Elaine Carrillo, who lives across the street. "If I'd known she was pregnant, I'm the type, I would have asked how the baby was doing, how far along. That sort of thing. I'm a labor and delivery nurse so I love knowing that kind of stuff."

She never got that chance.

Bakersfield firefighters were called to the fire about 4:40 a.m. Saturday. It had started in a detached back building that was illegally converted to a living space.

Firefighters quickly put out the flames but found the woman dead behind the door.

The fire started accidentally, according to Bakersfield fire officials.

Some wood in a wood burning stove had fallen out, setting blaze to the interior.

The dwelling was in a windowless, masonry structure that neighbors said had originally been a smokehouse.

Fire officials said the converted living space had numerous violations.

Carrillo said the smokehouse had been condemned some time prior, "but people were living in it anyway." That information couldn't be independently verified Saturday evening.

Neighbors all complained that the house had a lot of people in and out and police were regularly on the scene.

A woman inside the house declined to answer any questions, only saying that reporters were not allowed to come in the yard.

Officials had not released the woman's name by early Saturday evening.

The body of a large paddle-tailed rodent was found early Tuesday in the traffic lanes of southbound Mohawk Street north of Truxtun Avenue, suggesting Bakersfield's fabled bike path beaver -- scourge of local saplings -- may have died.

The lush grasses and sweeps of wildflowers cloak much of the damage to the small canyon in a blanket of ephemeral green. But Ellen Cypher and Erin Tennant can see it as they walk along a sandy route that has been churned into the bottom of the wash by motorcyclists and quad riders.

Californian columnist Lois Henry's discussion about fireworks Wednesday on "First Look with Scott Cox" was as explosive as a firework itself. She didn't hold anything back as she described the Kern County Supervisor's decision Tuesday to continue allowing Piccolos and ground flowers to be sold in...